ON THE WAY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS: SINO-WEST GERMAN TIES IN 1949-1972

The article considers the period of informal contacts between the PRC and the FRG before the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972. There was very little direct contact between the parties in the 1950s. Diplomatic contacts between representatives of the two countries intensified in the 1960s due to the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations and the increasing interest of West German business circles to develop trade ties with the PRC. In the author's opinion, conducted by the West German Chancellor Willy Brandt from 1969 a new foreign policy course, as well as famous visit of President Nixon to China had a great impact on the convergence of China and Germany in the late 1960s - early 1970s. These resulted in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the PRC and the FRG in October 1972.